Net neutrality gets a boost from leading Democrat

By eSchool News

September 18th, 2009

Supporters of net neutrality, which include many schools and colleges, got a boost Sept. 17 when California Democrat Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said he had added himself as a co-sponsor to the net-neutrality bill introduced by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., CNET reports. Waxman said during a hearing for the subcommittee that it was time to make sure rules were imposed to keep the internet open. "Industry will benefit from clarity, consistency, and predictability with regard to net neutrality," Waxman said at the hearing. "I think that the time is right to formally establish, through legislation if required, the rules of the road." The bill would prevent internet service providers from blocking content on the web or prioritizing traffic for customers who pay more. Large broadband providers, such as AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Comcast, have argued against a net-neutrality law, saying they need to be able to manage their networks. Most supporters of net neutrality agree that service providers should be able to provide "reasonable network management," but they think safeguards should be in place to make sure service providers don’t abuse their power…